DBA Armies

The western Sudan is the lightly wooded rolling grassland south of the Sahara desert. Nations dwelling there included Ghana, Mali, Songhai, Bornu, Kanem, Bulala and the Hausa states. The period ends with the Moroccan destruction of the Songhai in 1591, but armies as late as 1850 differed only in the number and type of firearms used. Yan lifida such as the “barde” bodyguard were protected against local archery and javelins by thick quilted armour for man and horse introduced about 1390. They were kept as a central reserve and advanced at a slow walk. Yan kwarbai were lesser javelin cavalry, some tribes using armour and some relying entirely on speed. The infantry types were: Yam baka who used weak bows to shoot dense clouds of un-flighted poisoned arrows (yam lifida added quilts, shield and short spear), yam fate-fate who used long straight sword and shield, Yam assigiri with long metal spears, big shields and quilts used to stop cavalry or as a striking force, yam mashi who used javelins and shield and zagi who were unshielded javelinmen that often supported yan kwarbai. Kanem and Bornu used Kanembu spearmen with very large shields who advanced slowly in close formation. References: Warfare in the Sokoto Caliphate ].P. Smaldone, Warfare in Atlantic Africa 1500-1800 ].K. Thornton, Slingshot 216, 217, 221 & 224, African Arms & Armour C. Spring.